Perú atraviesa una intensa semana de movilizaciones que combina el rechazo al alza de combustibles en varias regiones con una gran marcha en Lima contra reformas laborales, marcando la primera crisis de consideración para el gobierno de Keiko Fujimori, apenas dos semanas después de asumir el cargo. El foco principal de las manifestaciones está en Ucayali, región amazónica donde Fujimori obtuvo…

Finaly got the first Chapter of Possestion done, and here it it.

Part A: New Beginning

“We are nearing the station. Please prepare to depart the train and remember to bring all belongings before leaving the train.”

???: (Finally, I made it. This is where I begin my new life.)

After getting off the train, I pulled out my phone to look up the directions to the college dorm rooms and apartments

???: (Okay, directions to Ocala College)

While I was looking up the directions, I somewhat overheard a conversation between two other people.

Person 1: So, they just found him on the ground?

Person 2: Yep, just like the other 4 that went missing for only a few days.

Person 1: At this rate, I am not willing to accept that they were overdosing on alcohol or were drugged.

Person 2: I wonder if the police or even the mayor cares about this.

Person 1: Well, why would they just said this is just a drug ring-related case

Not interested in whatever they were bickering about, like two birds chirping to each other, I decided to just head towards the nearest bus stop and catch a ride to the apartments.

Keiko: (Well, Keiko, you are now in a new country and town, and are heading to a college that took a while to get enrolled in. This is your big step into your new life.)

After walking around the train station for a bit,  I managed to find the bus stop and started looking for where I needed to go. After it arrived, I got on it. For a second, it seemed like I just heard something unusual. But I immediately shrugged it off as being a sound from someone's gaming console.

Keiko: (It was probably from someone's phone or gaming console)

Then after I got to Ocala, all of a sudden a tall man with blond hair was peeking over me, looking at my phone. I quickly noticed and turned it off. He was wearing a white and blue striped shirt with some sort of fancy vest, with jeans.

???: So, an outsider has decided to attend the school for Ultimates.

From the way he talked, I already got the attitude of someone who has high power, and it was clear that he was a student from the College I was heading to. But calling it a school for Ultimates, that is kinda ridiculous; calling a standard college that. I didn't want to start a conversation with this guy, but he clearly didn't want to ignore me.

???: Well then, outsider, how's about you tell me what business you have at-

Keiko: It's Kel, and you don't really need to know.

???: Okay, you have some venom. Well, listen here, you want to know why I ask, because we don't get out-of-towners, and they can be bad news.

A guy who was a few seats down from me and this douchebag with a camouflage vest and orange-brown hair looked at him and rolled his eyes at him and lightly shouted.

???: Bugger off, Mathew

He immediately glanced over at the guy and started to walk over to him, but then tripped, managing to catch himself slightly. The weird thing is, though we didn't even go over a bump or any other rough terrain, it looked like someone had put their leg out and made him trip, but no one did. The bus then came to a stop, and he got off the bus, glancing at me. Well, at least that guy was gone.

———————————————————————————————————————

A few minutes later, I finally arrived at my destination and took a few moments to take it all in.

Keiko: (Well, I finally made it to somewhere where I can be myself! Now time to find where the apartments are)

I then decided to ask the guy who helped me out on the bus to get off it.

Keiko: Hey, yo man, can I ask you something?

???: Huu? Oh, sure thing! What is it, pale?

Keiko: (Okay, wow, I really did not expect them to actually respond to me; I guess there are just a lot of nice people here)

Keiko: So I was looking for the Old Bell Complex. Do you know where it is by any chance?

???: Sure, it's just this way.

Keiko: Oh, okay. Also, thanks for that back there.

???: No prob, I don't really like that guy either.

As we walked, I got a glance at the college, well, at least one or three of the wings. The college was at least the size of a standard mall

???: So you knew around here, I assume?

Keiko: ya, I just moved here from Alberta.

???: Oh, so you are from the town of Rood Side Sculpture Makers.

Ya, that's one thing about Alberta: people like to build big and random roadside sculptures.

???: So what brings you here?

He was asking a lot of questions but from his tone, I could tell that he was a chill guy.

Keiko: Oh well, I wanted to get away from my home because I wanted to be in a place that I felt was more welcoming and where I could start over.

???: Dang.. Well, we're here now, so try to have a bright mood.

I looked away from him and looked straight, and sure enough, we were at the apartments. Well, they are kinda like the dorms for the college since a lot of students live here and it's a jump away from it. But it is considered an apartment.

Keiko: Well, thanks a lot.

???: No problem, happy to help. Oh ya by the way, I didn’t ask what your name was. Have I

I gave a friendly smirk, then told him my name.

Keiko: Keiko, but you can just call me Kel.

Breken: Breken. Nice to meet you, Kel.

I didn’t actually expect him to call me by my actual name. I was somewhat shocked by it.

Breken: We'll see you around, Kel.

Keiko: See you around too.

And with that, Breken walked off and started chatting with what I presume to be friends of his. Well, I had finally reached where I needed to go.

———————————————————————————————————————

I walked inside the lobby, and it was a pretty basic lobby. There were sofas that some people were sitting on, watching the TV that was on the wall. There were some children who were playing with a car toy of sorts, which is surprising to me because I would have thought they would be playing on iPads or phones.

???: Hello, may I help you?

The woman who was at the front desk said to me,

Keiko: Huh, oh, um, ya. Is there a room that has my name under it?

Front Desk Lady: I'll see, um, what's your name

Keiko: Keiko Rei.

Front Desk Lady: Uuuuuuuum, yep, room C08, and here's the key to the room, and have a nice stay.

Keiko: Umm, thanks.

I was a bit surprised how quick and talkative she was; well, all I cared about was getting into the room and sitting down. I thought about taking the elevator, but it was apparently out of order, so I had to take the stairs. They looked very much like the 1940s and star-well. I then eventually made it to the 3rd floor and reached the room. However, one thing that the front desk woman told me was that I would have a roommate. So when I opened the door, I saw a woman who looked to be around 22 cooking something on the stove.

Keiko: Uuuuuuuuum, sorry, I think I have the wrong-

???: So you're my new roommate, huh?

I was a bit stunned and didn't know what to say.

???: It's alright, I was told that I would be getting a roommate, but I guess you didn't get that, huh. Well, come on in, and nice to meet you, mate.

Keiko: Um, thanks. I'm Keiko or Kel, and nice to meet you too.

Rowen: Name's Rowen. Nice to meet you, Kei.

Rowen then showed me around the room and eventually showed me my bedroom. It was pretty basic: a bed, a desk near the left corner of the room near a window that shows a small park and the road, and the dresser near the door to the right side of the bed. 

Rowen: So you're attending Ocala?

Keiko: Um, yes. What about you?

Rowen: No, I have a job at a pretty pub near here.

Keiko: Oh, cool.

After finishing the conversation, I put my suitcase and bag down, sat down on my bed, and took a deep breath. I could begin anew and leave everything from home behind. Still, it is kinda stressful because I only have myself to rely on. I then began to unpack my stuff and make the room feel more like home, and in the middle of it, Rowen came to ask me if I wanted to get something to eat at the pub she works at as a welcome treat, which, since I don't start my class until tomorrow and it was around 5 pm, I agreed to. It wasn’t like I had much to do, and besides, it would at least give me a bit more to go off of, considering what already happened today and the weird vibe I got from this town.

When I was done unpacking and sat down on my bed, for a second, I could have sworn I heard something similar to the sound I briefly heard at the bus stop, and then out of nowhere, I got this chill in my spine, as if I was prey being watched by a fearsome predator. I assumed, somewhat stupidly, I may add, that I was just feeling a bit homesick. But little did I know at the time, and I mean, who would, that a secret door to a new beginning had been opened. 

———————————————————————————————————————

Part B: New Forme

???: The.. the building still looks the same.. But this park was not here before. How much has this place changed?

Everything is still a blur, but I do remember something about this hotel, or it was a hotel. Overhearing a conversation a while ago between some people, this is now some apartment connected to a college called Ocailo, Ocolai, or whatever. From what I could recall, I don't think there was a college.

???: (Wait, back on overhearing those werdos chitchat, how the heck could they not have noticed me? Especially since I am some FREAKEN SPIDER TORNCHULA MONSTER?!) 

I was still way over my head, and who wouldn’t be if they were in my place? All that I know is that I have to- right! That tall bitch said something about possessing humans and doing something with them.

Me: (I am in a palace where there are a handful of people, but like hell if I’m going to listen to some crazy thing and do everything she said! And besides, even if I do, I have no idea how to even do that)

I am just some guy who has jack shit of an idea of what is going on. Well, I wasn't human; I looked like some half-spider with hands that look like claws. Well, the right one looks more like the end of a scythe, and a massive scar. I don't even know how I got it; I just had it even when I woke up here.

Me: Sigh, might as well see what else there is, don't really have much to do, and no one notices me.

Infected, no one could actually see me because, while trying to move, I tripped, landing on the pavement just a few feet away from some guy on a bench, and being in his line of sight, he didn’t react to me. So either he is blind, or he can’t see me. The latter of which became the more correct answer because, walking onto a street with a pretty decent amount of people, there was no shouting of fear from seeing some abomination like me, just people walking and doing whatever they were doing. Looking around the street, it definitely felt familiar, but at the same time not at all. Besides that their wasn’t really anything that captured my eye besides the posters on the polls and some missing posters for some kid; there was nothing out of the ordinary. That was until I saw something up on top of a building; it looked to be some bird, but with bat wings. I then noticed the symbols on its chest, and then got like an alert feeling, but then realized that it was some hybrid monster like me.

Me: Is it just looking around or?

I got my answer soon enough when it looked directly at me, and I then got a chill, shouting at me to run, and in a blink it started to fly down towards me, and so I booked it. It didn’t take long before it divbomd me. I managed to move out of the way of the alive air missile, tumbling into a ledge in some alleyway, falling and landing on a bin and some random bags.

Me: Shit, did it see where I went? 

I immediately got out of the rubble and started running, trying to get away from the scene, when out of nowhere I got smacked by that thing's wing and flew onto the road. The smack was somewhat painful, but the worst part of it was when I saw a car coming, and I didn’t have time to move, and so it hit me, making me fly across the road, and I landed onto a sidewalk in front of a fence rail with water below it. The thing then got back up in the air and began another divebomb without thinking; I rolled out of the way of the ledge and tried to grab onto something. My right claw grasped the wall and stopped my descent, where my legs, or claws, clawed into the wall, where I could feel my alert instinct start to fade away; I still didn’t feel like it lost me, so I stayed in one place for a bit before I decided to try and move.

After a little bit of nothing, hinting at me being safe, I moved my left leg forward slightly, hoping that I wouldn’t fall into the water, and after a bit it became apparent that I could walk back up and peeked my head up to see that the coast was clear. I then climbed back up and went under a bench, and took a big breather.

Me: That... was way too close.. Of possibly facing.. Death straight in the face. (Also, what the F**k was that thing) 

Still coming down from the adrenaline, I stayed under there for a good while, about an hour, before getting out from underneath the bench, and then I could feel my right arm aching a bit. I thought it was just from me using it to stop myself, so I didn’t really think much of it. I then took a look at my surroundings witch is where I saw a pub. But when looking at it, I could feel something coming from it that felt refreshing. I really didn’t think much of it, but if I felt something good coming from that place, it was probably safer than being out in the open with that bat bird thing looking for me. So I headed over to the pub called the Barley Burch. I managed to make my wayover to their and went into the outdoor eating area, walked under one of the tables. From what I could see, 

———————————————————————————————————————

I managed to make my wayover to their and went into the outdoor eating area, walked under one of the tables. The table that I was under had no people eating at it, but the table to the right of it had a large group of people, and to the left had 2 women, one with glasses who had a German-American accent, while the other one was blond-headed but with a streak of red and purple. That mixed-colored blondie, for some reason, caught my attention. Not in a romantic way, but there was just something about her that felt off. I managed to catch their conversation, which went.

Glasses: So that's mostly why I moved out of the US and came here; it’s nice, their nature is almost everywhere, and I have found a decent, steady job.

Mixed-Colored Blondie: Well, that's good for ya.

Glasses: So Kel, did you attend Ocala because it was the only one that accepted you?

Kel: No its not that. It's mostly because I wanted to get away from my home.

The way she said that made it very obvious that she found her hometown to not be that great of a place. Glasses tried to ask for a reason, Blondi- I mean Kel- gave an expression suggesting that she doesn’t want the conversation to continue.

Glasses: Well, I hope you're having a better time here.

Kel: Ya, even though I’m getting something of a feeling from here, probably because I am still getting used to it, I do feel a bit more comfortable here-

At that moment, a man, who I think is the owner of the pub, comes out and calls out to Glasses.

Pub Owner: Rowen, can you slide in here for a few and help me with something

Rowen: Ya sure thing! Be there in a flash.

She then turned to Kel, taking her plate from the table.

Rowen: I can take this for ya, and don't worry, the payments on me.

Kel: Thanks again, you didn’t really have to do this.

Rowen: Well. You seem like a great person, Kel, also wanted to make your first day feel good.

Kel: Okay, well, I’m going to head back to the apartment now. Have a good day.

Rowen: You two, and see ya back there in a little bit!

After that, she just walked off and entered the pub. Blondie got off her chair, grabbed her bag, and she was a few feet away from the table I was hiding under when she just stopped. And at that moment, the alert siren that I had started to go off for some reason. She then looked over, scanning the area.

Me: (Why the hell am I reacting to her? Does she know I am here, but wait! I thought no one could see me?)

After thinking that, she looked with a somewhat curious look and then walked off a bit faster. My mind then went to wondering if she could see me. So after waiting for her to be a bit ahead, I followed sut her. Of her heading under benches and behind random things just in case that bird bat baster from earlier was still looking for me. Eventually I the sun was starting to set, and I remembered the street, the one close to that hotel apartment, and the warm street fight that happened. But instead of there being a few people on the street, there was like no one. I was even more cautious here because of my living air missile incident and was still following that Kel girl. Which, now saying it out loud, is something very creepy that anyone would not want to be in. Well, I wasn’t going to attack here, so that's that aside; I am not really human. Okay, now that might make her freak out even more. We eventually ended up back at that park near the hotel, and eventually I would have an answer to my question.

———————————————————————————————————————

Part C: Human and Beast

After heading back to the apartment from the bar, I still couldn’t shake the watching feeling. I really had no idea what the hell was going on. During the walk, I was thinking back to the brief conversation I overheard at the train station.

Keiko: “This is just a drug ring-related case.” (What are they referring to? Is it a group of creepies drugging people randomly? But saying I'm not willing to accept the idea is something else going on.)

But that's when I heard, once I was near the park, a rustling from the grass behind me. After thinking back on the conversation, my mind went into multiple different places. Holding one of my bag straps with both hands, I stopped sprint walking and reversed to a normal speed. And that's when I heard the walking or clanking sound become louder and louder. As I heard it near the bench to my left, I immediately swung my body around while holding onto one of its straps. That might have been a high overreaction from me, and I did hit someone. I heard them yell, but they didn’t just get knocked back; they flew into the wall of the building, and that's when I got an actual good look at them. They were a… I couldn’t even describe how I felt in that moment looking at the thing; I yetted off the bench. They were like a big spider, tarantula, human hybrid thing, with two crab-like claws, with one of them looking so sharp and glowing with a light green. You thought I would be freaked as hell, but I was mostly confused and processing: The hell am I even looking at?

Keiko: Did I kill it?

That's when it made a grown sound, and it was starting to get up. I readied my bag again, and then that's when it started.

Tarantula Thing: What… ugh. The f.. Bitch!

Keiko:... (aqurd silence)... WHAT THE F**K IT TALKS!

Tarantula Thing: Ya I do, why didn’t you think I.. Oh ya I already know why.

At this moment, I was still not believing in what I was seeing, and from the way this thing spoke. He just sounds like an everyday guy, but in no way does he look like one.

Tarantula guy: So... you actually can see me.

Keiko: Um ya, given the fact that I decked you with my bag. Whatever you are.

Tarantula guy: Well at just brings up more questions.

Keiko: More questions? What are you researching, humans or something?

Tarantula guy: No. I am mostly wondering what I am! 

Wandering what he is. How can something or one be researching what they are? I was even more confused and weirded out than before.

Keiko: What, do you have amnesia?

Tarantula guy: At this point, it might as well be cause I remember this palace but not- wait, why is that your concern?

Keiko: Well, because you've been following me, and you thought that I can- Wait, what do you mean I can somehow see you?

Tarantula guy: Well, if others could see me, you would have heard screams and the police probably being on my ass!

I was still in denial that this was even happening to me: first the homesick feeling, then the weirdo on the bus, and now I am taken to some hybrid furry anthro things. I just decided to head back into the apartment and try to get some sleep.

Keiko: Well, I'm out of here, bey!

Tarantula guy: Wha- Hay, you're going to walk off? Blondie your really in denial!

Keiko: Keiko!

Tarantula guy: What?

Keiko: That's my name, Keiko. So eat it.

Tarantula guy: The hell did I even say?

After getting into the building, I headed straight up to my room. I just wanted to get some sleep. Getting back to my room, I immediately went to bed. Ya, instead of calling the cops or something, I went straight to bed. I was in denial that everything that happened was an illusion. But no, everything that happened was not infact a illusion.

———————————————————————————————————————

Tarantula Guy: Well, this is by far the weirdest day of my life.

I was copley over my head of the conversation I had with Keiko or Kel girl. It was pretty late, so I just decided to head under a bench and wait till morning, but as I did that, I saw something coming down the street, and it was a creature like me, but massive and dangerous.

End of Chapter 1

/ id: Digital sketch in silver fills and a blue pen with ambiently cool (blue and green) gradients: a fanart of Botan's hair being loosely braided by Keiko, both sitting, both smiling. Botan (slender, tall, curly-wavy hair) is looking in Keiko's (pudgy, wavy hair with short bangs) direction without turning her head, Keiko is focused on braiding. Signed, tumblr@paddytractorbacchiv ao3@paddyparadschaha. / end id.

Added a couple of effects to this sketch.

I rewatched the Kalafina Live 2026 and Animax 2026 and love these girls to bits. It's lovely to see joy expressed in their emotions. But I also want to be honest and that's why I feel safe to express my opinion here and invite honest discussions from you and the rest of the fans.

We all know the strain put on their voices with perhaps lack of coaching, rigorous schedules and demanding vocal output which has dramatically changed Wakana and Hikaru's voices. Hikaru's voice has definitely matured in the chest and deep tones, performing well in pop and rock songs. During the live however, I could hear Hikaru straining to reach her high clear tones or head voice.

With Wakana, I'm a bit confused. She does sound more stronger and projected with her chest voice. Sometimes, I feel, too loud that it tips the harmonies a little which makes it sound like a solo song with Hi-chan and Kei-chan backing. But it also feels as if she's using her chest voice to reach those high notes, notes that you'd usually use head voice or whispery tones, which in turn causes her to break or sound flat. Now, I'm wondering if she damaged her head voice and I'm worried because straining your chest voice to reach high notes on every occassion will prolong damage. On the one hand, it breaks my heart to hear her break so horribly in her Ongaku solo because I know my girl can do it! On the other, I'm hoping this is just Wa-chan trying things out and adjusting to her current voice and harmonies.

Tbh, I feel all of them have needed to rediscover and adjust to their new developed voices and rethink those harmonies in a way that sounds pleasing and to what the score is. I look forward to your thoughts and the thoughts of all the fans here.

Hi there!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. First of all, I'm genuinely flattered that you feel comfortable expressing these opinions here. Although I do have to wonder whether my blog is really the best platform for conversations of this nature. I've always been quite open about the fact that my little corner of the fandom isn't really about dissecting the things I don't enjoy. That doesn't mean criticism isn't welcome here, despite popular belief, I don't actually shy away from light criticism when I feel it's warranted, and I've certainly pointed out things in the past that didn't quite work for me. I just tend to view those observations as a small part of the overall picture rather than the main takeaway. That's simply how I choose to engage with media and artists I care about. I realise that approach may be disappointing to people who prefer a more critical or analytical engagement but I've always found more value in celebrating the things that bring me joy. Also, I am not a vocal coach or a music teacher, I am not particularly knowledgeable when it comes to all the technical elements of singing beyond a basic understanding of what sounds good to my ears. So, before you continue reading, I'd suggest tempering your expectations slightly. If you're looking for a thorough breakdown of vocal flaws and performance issues, you're probably asking the wrong person.

Now, without further ado, let's get to the reply ( σ'ω')σ

To a certain extent, I can understand where you're coming from, and I don't think it's unreasonable or controversial to notice that all three members sound different today than they did during the early Kalafina days (to varying degrees). Their voices have changed and as a result, their techniques have undoubtedly required some readjustment as well. There are moments where the harmony isn't quite what it used to be, where certain passages sound a bit off, or where individual performances fall short of what we know they're capable of. I recognise all of that but to me, that's simply part of the reality of artists continuing to evolve and adapt after so many years.

I personally try not to dwell too much on the weaker moments. Of course there are occasions where a note doesn't quite land or a performance isn't perfect, but those moments don't take away from my enjoyment of Kalafina. What stands out to me much more is the emotion, chemistry, and joy they're bringing to the stage. Seeing them perform together again and clearly enjoying themselves means far more to me than whether every note is technically flawless.

I also hesitate to speculate about vocal damage or other health issues. Fans frequently discuss perceived vocal strain among the members over the years, but as far as I'm aware, there have never been any official confirmations of medical conditions that would have permanently impacted their vocal performance so there's no point coming up with wild theories about it. What we do know however, is that the girls have always taken their craft seriously and worked hard to improve. Wakana, for example, has spoken about continuing vocal lessons over the years, and all three of them had to adapt and refine their techniques during their solo careers, which is naturally different from singing as part of a group.

Another thing I keep in mind is that live recordings don't always reflect what the performance actually sounded like in the venue. Having attended some of these concerts myself, I can honestly say that my memories of the live experience are often more positive than what ended up on the broadcast. In person, the harmonies felt wonderfully balanced and cohesive on Day 2 of their Anniversary Live. I never once found myself thinking that Wakana was drowning out Hikaru and Keiko or that the songs sounded like solo performances with backing vocals. That perception is something I only encountered later when listening to the recording where Wakana's vocals do indeed feel a little overpowering. It seems like certain choices have been made during mixing and post-production but I hesitate to frame them as mistakes. The final release is a creative work in its own right, and we know for a fact that the girls are not passive observers in that process anymore. If a recording presents the sound differently from the actual live performance, I tend to assume that reflects conscious decisions made by the members themselves which is why I try to respect that even if those changes might not have had the desired effect. Alternatively, it could also be the result of certain technical limitations, in which case I obviously refuse to blame the girls.

I also find it telling that the girls themselves are constantly praising and encouraging one another. From everything we've seen, they seem to genuinely admire each other's singing and performances. That doesn't mean they're perfect, of course, they are clearly aware of some of their individual shortcomings, but it does suggest that they feel comfortable and confident with where they are vocally and with what each member brings to the group. So really, who am I to question that? I gain absolutely nothing from overanalysing the technicalities. For example, what do we make of the fact that so many fans dislike the vocals in current performances of "Kimi ga Hikari ni Kaete Iku" when we have both Wakana and Keiko gushing over each other? There's an astounding dissonance in perception that makes little to no sense...

In the end, when I watch these concerts, I come away feeling happy rather than concerned, let alone heartbroken - as you say. The imperfections are there, sure, I'll even admit to cringing from time to time but those moments don't overshadow everything else that I love about their performances.

More generally, I've always felt that there's only so much value in focusing on every flaw in a performance. Honest criticism is perfectly fine, and no artist is beyond critique, but if I find myself spending more time listing things I disliked than appreciating what I enjoyed, then perhaps that particular artist is simply not for me anymore and it's time to start looking elsewhere for something that better suits my tastes. Life is too short, and there is far too much wonderful music out there, to spend all of my energy dwelling on things that disappoint me. I'd rather spend my time engaging with things that bring me happiness than write long essays cataloguing every perceived problem. In Kalafina's case, the things I love about their music and performances still vastly outweigh any imperfections I might notice along the way.

For you, it might be worth considering to move on in order to spare yourself further frustration. And I mean that in the kindest way possible. I can tell you care about Kalafina a great deal but if your heart is breaking and you are constantly worrying, desperately searching for ways to explain the issues away or to improve the situation, then that's not a very fun way to experience fandom. Especially since no matter what reasons and theories you come up with, none of that will ever reach Kalafina or noticeably affect their approach to singing.

KEIKO Instagram Live #117

[20260725] KEIKO Insta Live #117 WITH comments

Hi there!

Haha 🤣Yeah! Bless Keiko for regularly tagging the brands she is wearing! Wish she would do it even more often! Her dress was pretty easy to find as soon as she posted the first pictures after the live but with jewellery, it's always a bit harder unless it's a very specific design so I am super grateful she decided to share that info with us.

Looking up her earrings, I am honestly not surprised to see the price tag. It's Keiko after all. She likes to go for high-end accessories that will pretty much last her a lifetime. Too bad I would never be willing to fork out such a ridiculously high amount of money for a rather basic looking piece of jewellery. But hey, looking at some of the other stuff on the website, Keiko seems to have gone for one of the cheaper options so I guess it's still in the realm of "affordable" for commoners like us...

Anyway, do let me know if I've missed their setlists and they've actually included their old (for a lack of a better word) songs. If not, why do you think that is?

Hi there!

That's a really interesting question, and one I've wondered about myself from time to time, at least with regard to Hikaru.

It's true that Hikaru doesn't regularly build her setlists around older material, though it's not as if she never revisits it. Hikaru has occasionally performed songs from her H-el-ical// days, with "TSUMUGU" and her anime tie-ins (such as "disclose") being the most notable examples. With Keiko, I feel like it's not that big of an issue actually. She has brought back many songs from her older albums, including her debut tracks "Inochi no Hana", "Be Yourself" or staples like "Nanairo no Finale", "endroll" and "Burn in the Wind". So it's clear to me that neither of them has completely abandoned their earlier work, they just generally seem a bit more focused on their current work, which makes sense if you are continuously making new music like they do. This is especially true for Hikaru who regularly releases new tracks dedicated to specific styles, genres, themes and motifs. Her lives and tours always reflect a unique concept so it's probably difficult (and kinda off-topic) to squeeze in too many old songs.

My personal theory is that it's less about disliking those older songs and more about artistic priorities. Both Hikaru and Keiko seem to view each phase of their careers as a distinct chapter. Rather than centering their concerts on older work for the sake of nostalgia (although not unheard of!), they often use the stage as opportunity to showcase who they are as artists in the present. They are proud of what they have achieved and how they have grown as artists. Keiko for example has worked so hard to improve her guitar skills so she will naturally favour songs that she can already play on the guitar, other songs inevitably fall by the wayside.

Another aspect worth considering is how much more creatively involved both of them have become over the years. During much of their earlier careers, they were primarily interpreters of material created and overseen by others. Today, both Hikaru and Keiko play a much more active role in shaping their music. Hikaru has increasingly established herself as a lyricist and rock legend, while Keiko has not only written lyrics but has also become involved in composition. There seems to be a genuine sense of artistic ownership in their recent work. Because of that, I can imagine that performing newer songs carries a different emotional significance. Those songs don't just represent their voices; they represent their thoughts, experiences, and creative decisions as well. Having gradually gained more agency over their artistic output, it's only natural that they might feel particularly attached to the music they've helped create from the ground up.

There may also be practical considerations behind the scenes. In Hikaru's case, I've sometimes wondered whether the transition from H-el-ical// to her current independent activities plays a role. H-el-ical// was tied to a different management and label structure, and while artists can often perform songs from previous projects, there can sometimes be licensing, royalty, or administrative considerations involved. Whether that's actually the case here, I have no idea, but it's one possible factor. Even if performing those songs is legally straightforward, there may be additional costs or permissions involved compared to performing material that she currently controls more directly. I wonder if Hikaru has ever talked about this in one of her weekly live streams? I rarely get to watch them so I am probably missing a lot of important context.

That said, I suspect artistic preference is the bigger factor. If rights issues were the main obstacle, we probably wouldn't have seen Hikaru perform songs like "TSUMUGU" at all. The fact that she regularly brings back some of her older work suggests that the door isn't closed, even if it's not something she chooses to do on a bigger scale.

Additionally, let's circle back to this idea of concept concerts mentioned earlier. These days, both Hikaru and Keiko prefer to hold very small lives with certain structural constraints that often result in very specific setlists in order to match the visual and thematic arc. Compare this to Wakana's concerts for example, which may have an overarching theme as well but it's not as restricted which allows her to pick songs from her entire catalogue without anything seeming out of place.

Ultimately, I think it's probably a combination of several factors. Both Hikaru and Keiko have shown they're willing and happy to revisit older material on occasion (and it probably happens more often than you think), but they seem more focused on moving forward than looking back. As fans, we naturally have our favourite songs we'd love to hear more regularly performed, yet from their perspective those songs may represent a chapter in their career that no longer perfectly aligns with their current vision. Or it's for a much simpler reasons such as them not having the capacity to squeeze in further tracks. And while there may be practical considerations regarding older work created as part of a separate project (at least in Hikaru's case), my guess is that artistic growth and creative ownership play a much larger role in determining what ends up on a setlist these days. The more involved they've become in the songwriting process, the more understandable it is that they would want to spotlight the music that most fully reflects who they are now as artists.

『KEIKO LIVE in the DARK -2026 planetarium- K024〜K025』 Merch Online Sale

Good news! Contrary to what I expected, they just announced a post-event online sales for some of the left-over merchandise items from "KEIKO LIVE in the DARK -2026 planetarium- K024~K025"!

[Product Lineup] ■[First-come, first-served] Acrylic Stand ■[First-come, first-served] Acrylic Card (5 types, random)

※The aroma candle, swaying keychain, and umbrella markers will not be sold.

[Sales Period] July 24th (Fri) 12:00 - Sales end when sold out

[Quantity Limit] Up to 5 items per person per product

[Shipping Schedule] Expected to ship within 1 week of order